Love by Calculation

Aleksei Lopatin finishes his studies at the University of Economics and Finance, but he has no plans to return to his hometown Novorossiysk. He dreams of becoming an oligarch and buying himself an island in the Caribbean Sea. For that, he needs a small thing—marrying Sonya Shneider, the daughter of the owner of the largest private bank in St. Petersburg.

“Sonya,” Lopatin held Sonya by the elbow, “if you don’t pass, can I help you?”

— I know you, Sovk—your help is worth more only on the Moon! — Sonya snorted.

That hinted that Lopatin sometimes earned extra money by tutoring his fellow students and junior-year students.

“Are you kidding me, Sonya?! For you, only a one-hundred-percent discount!”

— Why would that be?

Sonya suspiciously narrowed her eyes.

“Gusar men don’t take money from women,” Lopatin said proudly.

“So they don’t!” Sonya laughed. “And you, Lopatin, are a real Sovk.”